ATMOSPHERIC GRAVITY WAVES are generated by atmospheric disturbances such as storm fronts, strong wind shears, and flow over mountains and play a key role in coupling the lower and upper atmosphere, causing a redistribution of momentum and energy from the troposphere and lower stratosphere into the upper atmospheric regions of the middle stratosphere, mésosphère, and lower thermosphère. Gravity waves trigger convection and induce mixing and transport of atmospheric chemicals such as ozone. Gravity waves typically form within or near the back edge of a precipitation shield. The strongest upward motions of gravity waves occur just following the surface pressure trough and lead to maximum precipitation rates just ahead of the ridge.

Atmospheric gravity waves can occur at all altitudes in the atmosphere and are important for ...